Much of what I see these days around virtual teams and telecommuting--and much is hardly the proper descriptor for HOW MUCH there is--centers on what the "home office," meaning of course HQ, can do for the people in the real home offices. What I like about Sarah Beckham's interview in The Statesman with Jayna Wallace, a "principal user experience designer for Blockbuster" (and if you don't know what that is, don't worry: it's happening to you even as you read), is her grasp of her responsibility in making the arrangement work. A few of her tips about making it work from home sweet home:
• There's no IT department at your house. Learn to fix your own computer problems, or to work around them — if your Wi-Fi goes out, be prepared for a trip to the library or coffee shop to work.• Be available. A quick reply when your manager contacts you will help allay any concerns she might have about your working remotely. If you don't respond to her instant message right away, it's all too easy for her to her assume you're watching Bravo instead of working.
• Have a friend on the inside. If you work remotely and most of your co-workers are at the same office, you need an ally who'll tell you what the boss has been saying and give you the number for a conference call if the coordinator forgot to.
